Recording apparatus and regenerating apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a recording or reproducing apparatus for recording video or audio signal on a recording medium with plural recording blocks or reproducing video or audio signal from such recording medium, equipped with a display unit for providing a display related to the recording or reproducing operation in the case of video signal recording or reproduction, or the elapsed recording or reproducing time from the start of recording or reproducing operation in the case of audio signal recording or reproduction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and moreparticularly to a recording apparatus capable of recording a videosignal and an audio signal, and a regenerating apparatus capable ofregenerating a video signal and an audio signal.

2. Related Background Art

For recording a video signal and an audio signal, there are alreadyknown cassette tape recorders and video tape recorders.

Also there has recently been developed a still video system capable ofrecording a still video signal and an audio signal on a magnetic sheetcalled a video floppy disk. In such still video system each ofconcentric tracks formed on the magnetic sheet can record a video signalof a field, or an audio signal of several tens of seconds compressed intime.

In such recording apparatus for recording a video signal and an audiosignal, it is necessary, for the user, to be able to know in advance thetime available for recording the audio signal, and, also in the courseof use, preferable for the user to be able to confirm the remainingrecording time. For this purpose the assignee of the present inventionhas already disclosed, in Japanese Patent Application No. 209311/1985, atechnology for displaying the available recording time. Also inrecording the video signal, it is desirable to provide a display relatedto the recording operation, such as the track position utilized forrecording the video signal on the magnetic sheet. However, simultaneousdisplay of these two data may not only increase the space required fordisplay, thus leading to an increased cost, but may also cause confusionto the user.

Such drawbacks are also present in the regenerating apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A prime object of the present invention is to provide a recordingapparatus which is free from the foregoing drawbacks and allows the userto know the time available for audio recording, with a simple structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recordingapparatus capable of displaying the time available for audio recordingin a readily understandable manner, without the fear of confusion withother displays.

The above-mentioned objects can be achieved, according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention, by a recording apparatus forrecording a video signal and an audio signal in the blocks of arecording medium, provided with display means for providing a displayrelated to the recording operation in case of video signal recording,and a display of the elapsed recording time from the start of recordingin case of audio signal recording.

In such embodiment, said display means provides a display concerning therecording operation in the case of video signal recording, and a displayon the elapsed recording time in the case of audio signal recording.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide aregenerating apparatus allowing the user to know the available time foraudio regeneration, with a simple structure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide aregenerating apparatus capable of displaying the available audioregenerating time in a readily understandable manner, without the fearof confusion with other displays.

The above-mentioned objects can be achieved, according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention, by a regenerating apparatus capableof signal regeneration from a recording medium on which a video signaland an audio signal are recorded in the blocks thereof, provided withdisplay means for providing a display concerning the regeneratingoperation in the case of video signal regeneration, and a display on theelapsed regenerating time from the start of regeneration in the case ofaudio signal regeneration.

In such regenerating apparatus, the display means provides a display onthe regenerating operation in the case of video signal regeneration, anda display on the elapsed regenerating time in the case of audio signalregeneration.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusequiped with display means capable, in recording or reproducing aninformation signal such as an audio signal in a compressed state with apredetermined compression rate, of displaying the state of suchcompression in an easily understandable manner.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a processand means for displaying the audio recording or regenerating time,adapted for use in an audio record/regenerating apparatus meeting thestill video standards.

The foregoing and still other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become fully apparent from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.1;

FIGS. 3A (consisting of FIGS. 3A-1, 3A-2, 3A-3 and 3A-4) and 3B are flowcharts showing the function of a main controller 20 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, showing a first display example of a display unit24 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, showing a second display example of the displayunit 24;

FIG. 6 is a plan view, showing a third display example of the displayunit 24;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views showing other display examples of thedisplay unit 24 in the execution of the sequence shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now the present invention will be clarified in detail by embodimentsshown in the appended drawings.

In the following description there will be disclosed arecord/regenerating apparatus capable of recording and regenerating,according to the still video format, a still video signal or audiosignal of several tens of seconds compressed in time axis, on or fromone of concentric tracks of a magnetic sheet as explained before, butthe present invention is naturally applicable also to otherrecord/regenerating apparatus for recording and regenerating an ordinaryvideo signal or non-compressed audio signal, for example on or from anoptical recording medium. Furthermore the present invention isapplicable also to an apparatus designed exclusively for recording, oran apparatus designed exclusively for regeneration. FIG. 1 is a blockdiagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is anexternal perspective view thereof.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there are shown a camera lens 1; a diaphragm 2 thereof;a shutter 3; a solid-state image sensor 4 for photoelectricallyconverting the light entering from an object through said lens 1,diaphragm 2 and shutter 3; a signal processing circuit 5 for effecting aclamp process, color separation process etc. on the signal from theimage sensor 4; an FM modulation circuit 6 for FM modulating the signalprocessed by said signal processing circuit 5; a switching circuit 7 forselectively supplying a head 33 with the output of said FM modulatingcircuit 6 or of an FM modulating circuit 15 to be explained later,according to a signal from a main controller 20; a microphone 11 foraudio input; a converter 12 for A/D conversion of said audio input; anda RAM 13 for time axis compression of which writing and readingoperations are controlled by the main controller 20. The time-axiscompression can be achieved by selecting mutually different writing andreading speeds for said RAM 13. Also the level of said compression canbe regulated, in the present embodiment, by varying the sampling rate ofthe A/D converter 12. There are further shown a D/A converter 14 for D/Aconversion of the read-out audio data; an FM modulating circuit 15; aswitching circuit 7 for the video and audio signals, controlled by themain controller 20; a main controller 20 for controlling the diaphragm2, the shutter 3, the RAM 13, switching circuits 7, 38, 40, a trackposition control circuit 21, a display controller 23, a motor 30 andother circuits, according to flow charts to be explained later; and atrack position control circuit 21 for controlling the access position ofthe head 33 by controlling the rotation of a motor 31 according to theinstruction from the main controller 20.

There is further shown a display controller 23 which drives a displayunit 24, according to a signal from the main controller 20, in such amanner as to provide a display as shown in FIG. 4(i) in the case ofvideo signal recording, or a display as shown in FIG. 4(ii) in the caseof audio signal recording.

The display unit 24 is positioned on an upper face of the recordingapparatus formed as a camera.

There are further shown a motor 30 for rotating a magnetic sheet 34; amotor 31 driven by the track position control circuit 21; a rack 32engaging with a gear of the motor 31; a head 33 mounted on said rack 32,for recording the signal entered from the switching circuits 7, 38 onthe magnetic sheet 34; a track 35 formed on the magnetic sheet 34; adifferential phase shift keying (DPSK) circuit 36 for multiplexrecording, with the video or audio signal to be recorded, of an IDsignal which is released by the main controller 20 and which indicatesthe video or audio signal recording and the level of time-axiscompression in case of audio signal recording; a recording amplifier 37for amplifying the FM modulated signal for supply to the head 33; aswitching circuit 38 for connecting either the recording amplifier 37 ora regenerating amplifier 39 to the head 33; a regenerating amplifier 39for amplifying the signal regenerated by the head 33; a selector switch40 for supplying the output of said regenerating amplifier 39 either toan A/D converter 48 in case of audio signal regeneration, or to an FMdemodulating circuit 43 in case of video signal regeneration; an adder41 for adding the signal to be recorded and the output of the DPSKcircuit 36; an FM demodulating circuit 43 for FM demodulation of thesignal regenerated by the regenerating amplifier 39; a regenerationprocess circuit 44 for effecting a clamping process etc. on the FMdemodulated signal; an encoder 45 for converting the signal afterregeneration process into a complex television signal such as NTSCsignal; a monitor 46 for displaying the signal from the encoder 45; anFM demodulating circuit for FM demodulation of the output of theregenerating amplifier 47; a converter 48 for A/D conversion of the FMdemodulated signal; a RAM 49 for storing the A/D converted signal; and aconverter 50 for D/A conversion of the signal read from the RAM 49 bythe main controller 20, with a time-axis expansion achieved by mutuallydifferent writing and reading speeds.

There are further shown a loudspeaker 51 for acoustic regeneration ofthe signal converted by the D/A converter 50; a filter 53 filtering thesignal modulated by the DPSK circuit 36 and overlapped with the signalregenerated by the regenerating amplifier 39; a demodulating circuit 54for DPSK demodulation of the output of said filter 53; a magnetic sheetdetecting circuit 56 for detecting the presence of a magnetic sheet fromthe output of a photocoupler 56A, 56B; an envelope detecting circuit 57for discriminating whether the track of the magnetic sheet 34 is alreadyrecorded so that the head 33 provides a regeneration output; and a coveropenable for inserting the magnetic sheet 34.

There are further shown an external terminal 69 for example forreleasing the signal regenerated from the magnetic sheet 34; arecord/regeneration mode selector switch 101 for selecting the recordingmode in the closed state or the regenerating mode in the open state; anaudio/video mode selector switch 102 for example for selecting an audiosignal recording mode in the closed state or a video signal recordingmode in the open state; and an audio compression rate switch 103 forcyclically select the audio compression rate or the sampling rate of theA/D converter 12. An actuation of said switch 13 in the audio recordingmode changes the display of the display unit 24 from the indication of atrack number shown in FIG. 4(i) to a display of the available audiorecording time shown in FIG. 4(ii), and successive actuations of saidswitch 103 cyclically change the display in the order of (ii), (iii),(iv) and (ii) shown in FIG. 4.

A release switch 104 has two strokes, and, when depressed to the secondstroke, serves as a trigger switch in the recording mode, and as aswitch for starting and stopping the regeneration in the regeneratingmode.

An UP switch 105 moves the head 33 by a track toward the inside of themagnetic sheet, while a DOWN switch 106 moves said head 33 by a tracktoward the outside of the magnetic sheet.

Now reference is made to FIGS. 3A and 3B which are flow charts of thecontrol sequence of the main controller 20 shown in FIG. 1, in order toexplain the function of the above-explained embodiment of the presentinvention.

In the following is explained each step in said flow charts:

#1: When the release switch 104, shown in FIG. 2, is depressed to thefirst stroke, the output of the magnetic sheet detecting circuit 56 isdiscriminated, and the program proceeds to a step #2 if the magneticsheet is absent, or to a step #3 if said sheet is present, with theactivation of the motor 30.

#2: Initialize reset flag (IRQF) is reset to zero.

#3: The state of the switch 101 is checked to identify the recordingmode or the regenerating mode, and the program proceeds to a step #4 or#51 respectively.

#4: There is made discrimination whether the flag IRQF is set, and theprogram proceeds to a step #26 or #5 respectively if said flag is set ornot.

#5: The output of the magnetic sheet detecting circuit 56 is checked,and the program proceeds to a step #1 or #34 respectively when themagnetic sheet 34 is absent or present.

#6: The motor 31 is driven through the track position control circuit 21in such a manner that the head 33 makes access to the 0-th track (aposition outside of the 1st track by one track pitch).

#7: Discrimination is made whether the head 33 is at the 50th track ornot, and the program proceeds to a step #12 or #8.

#8: This step is executed when the step #7 identifies that the head 33is not positioned at the 50th track, and the head 33 is displacedinwards by a track.

#9: Discrimination is made whether the track on which the head 33 ispositioned is already recorded, by switching the switching circuit 38 tothe regenerating amplifier 39, effecting the regenerating operation fora short period and detecting the output of the envelope detectingcircuit 57.

#10: If the step #9 identifies that said track is not yet recorded, abit of a track memory corresponding to the number of the track where thehead 33 is positioned is shifted to "0". For example, if the head 33 ispositioned at the 10th track, a 10th bit of the track memory provided inthe main controller 20 is shifted to "0".

#11: If the step #9 identifies that said track is already recorded, abit of the track memory corresponding to the track number where the head33 is positioned is shifted to "1".

#12: If the step #7 identifies that the head 33 is positioned at the50th track, the recorded or non-recorded state of all the tracks on themagnetic sheet 34 is recorded in the track memory. Thus the flag IRQF isset and the program proceeds to a step #26. Said identification is madeby the track position control circuit 21.

#26: If all the bits of the track memory are "1", indicating the absenceof empty track, the flow proceeds to a step #27. On the other hand, ifan empty track is available, the flow proceeds to a step #13.

#27: A mark, for example "PP" flashes on the display unit 24 through thedisplay controller 23, thus indicating that the recording operation isnot possible.

#13: The head 33 is moved to the outermost empty track on the magneticsheet 34.

#14: The display unit 24 is controlled through the display controller 23so as to display the number of the track where the head 33 ispositioned.

#15: The state of the switch 102 is detected to identify the audiorecording mode or the video recording mode, and the flow proceeds to astep #16 or #28 respectively.

#16: In case of the audio recording mode, the display unit 24 displaysfor example the available audio recording time as shown in FIG. 4(ii),instead of the track number. In this state the display controller 23 isso driven as the display on the display unit 24 to flash intermittently,indicating that the audio compression rate is regulable.

#17: Discrimination is made as to whether the audio compression ratesetting switch 103 is turned on or not, and the flow proceedsrespectively to a step #18 or #20.

#18: Discrimination is made as to whether the switch 103, identified asturned on in the step #17, is turned off, namely whether the operatingfinger has left said switch 103, and, if affirmative, the flow proceedsto a step #19.

#19: The count of the audio compression rate counter is increased byone.

The count of the audio compression rate counter is related with thedisplay of the display unit 24 in the following manner.

Said counter is composed of a ring counter, of which count is stepwiseincreased and returns from "2" to "0" in response to each actuation ofthe audio compression rate setting switch 103. A count "0", "1" or "2"respectively provides a display as shown in FIG. 4(ii), (iii) or (iv).

The state shown in FIG. 4(ii) indicates that the audio time-compressionrate is 1280 times and that the available audio recording time is 20seconds, while the state in FIG. 4(iii) indicates that the audiotime-compression rate is 640 times with the available audio recordingtime of 10 seconds, and the state in FIG. 4(iv) indicates that the audiotime-compression rate is 320 times, with the available audio recordingtime of 5 seconds. A signal indicating said time-compression rate isrecorded on the track in the form of the aforementioned ID signal, andthe writing and reading speeds of the RAM's 13, 49 are controlledaccording to said time-compression rate.

#20: Discrimination is made as to whether the release switch 104 isdepressed to the second stroke or not, and the flow proceedsrespectively to a step #21 or #15.

#21: A count corresponding to the compression rate selected in the steps#16 to #20 is preset in the audio recording time counter. Said presetvalue is same as that displayed on the display unit 24.

#22: It is discriminated whether one second has elapsed. This step isrepeated until the lapse of one second, after which the flow proceeds toa step #23.

#23: The count of the audio recording time counter is stepwisedecreased. The display controller 23 controls the display unit 24 so asto display the count of the audio recording time counter. Thus, inresponse to the depression of the release switch over the second stroke,the display unit 24 indicates the available remaining time for audiorecording. The display on the display unit 24 flashes in the selectionof the audio compression rate in the steps #16-#19, but it iscontinuously lighted when the release switch 104 is turned on, thusindicating that the audio recording is proceeding.

#24: It is discriminated whether the count of the audio recording timecounter is "0" or not, and the flow respectively proceeds to a step #25or returns to the step #22.

#25: The switch 7 is connected to the FM modulating circuit 15 while theswitch 38 is connected to the head 33. The audio signal stored in theRAM 13 is read at a high speed in such a manner that the audio signalstored in said RAM 13 can be recorded in one track, or that all thesignal in the RAM 13 is read during one rotation of the magnetic sheet,and the time-compressed audio signal is recorded on the magnetic sheet34.

In this step, a bit of the track memory corresponding to the tracksubjected to recording operation is shifted to "1".

The foregoing is the procedure when the audio recording mode is selectedby the switch 102. In the following there will be explained theprocedure when the video recording mode is selected by the switch 102.

#28: The audio compression rate counter is reset.

#29: In response to the detection that the release switch 104 has beendepressed to the second stroke, the flow proceeds to a step #30, and, inabsence of said detection the flow returns to the step #14.

#30: The diaphragm 2 is closed to a predetermined stop value accordingto the output of an unrepresented light measuring circuit.

#31: The shutter 3 is opened for a predetermined period to expose theimage sensor 4 to the incoming light.

#32: There is discriminated whether an exposure time, determined fromthe output of said unrepresented light measuring circuit and the stopvalue of the diaphragm set in the step #30, and, after the lapse of saidexposure time, the flow proceeds to a step #33.

#33: The shutter 3 is closed.

#34: The switch 7 is connected to the FM modulating circuit 6 while theswitch 38 is connected to the head 33, and the image sensor 4 isactivated to obtain photoelectrically converted signal, whereby thesignal processed in the processing circuit 5, and FM modulated in the FMmodulating circuit 6 is recorded by the head 33 on the magnetic sheet34. In this step there is set a bit of the track memory corresponding tothe track subjected to the recording operation.

In the above-explained recording modes, the display unit 24 indicatesthe available audio recording time when the audio recording mode isselected by the switches 101, 102, and the display on said display unit24 flashes when the audio compression rate is regulable with the switch103. Once the audio recording operation is started, the display unit 24indicates the remaining available time for audio recording according tothe time elapsed.

In the video recording mode, the display unit 24 indicates the number ofthe track on which the head 33 is positioned.

In the present embodiment, a single display unit is utilized forindicating the number of the track where the head 33 is positioned, theavailable audio recording time, and the data corresponding to the audiocompression rate. However, it is also possible to construct the displayunit 24 as shown in FIG. 5, so that the available audio recording timeand the number of track where the head 33 is positioned are indicated bya single display unit while the data corresponding to the audiocompression rate is displayed by another display unit.

The foregoing explains the procedure executed when the recording mode isselected by the record/regeneration mode selector switch 101. In thefollowing there will be explained a procedure, branching from the step#3 and starting from a step #51, when the regenerating mode is selectedby said switch 101.

#51: When the regenerating mode is set, there is discriminated whetherthe UP switch 105 is turned on or not, and the flow proceedsrespectively to a step #52 or #53.

#52: The head 33 is shifted inwards by a track.

#53: There is discriminated whether the DOWN switch 106 is turned on ornot, and the flow proceeds respectively to a step #54 or #56.

#54: The head 33 is shifted by a track outwards.

#55-1: The display unit 24 is so controlled as to display the tracknumber.

#55-2: There is discriminated whether a regeneration flag is set or not,and the flow proceeds respectively to a step #57 or #56.

#56: There is discriminated whether the release switch 104 has beendepressed to the second stroke. The flow returns to the start if saidsecond stroke depression has not been made. If said depression has beenmade, a step #59 detects that said depression has been released, and theflow then proceeds to a step #57.

#57: The selector switch 38 is connected to the regenerating amplifier39, and the demodulated ID signal is read by the filter 53 and the DPSKdemodulating circuit 54. Also there is set a regeneration flag which isto be discriminated in a step #55-2.

#58: From the ID signal read in the step #57, there is discriminatedwhether audio signal recording has been made or not, and the flowproceeds respectively to a step #60 or #70.

#60: The display unit 24 is so controlled as to display the regeneratingtime according to the audio compression rate regenerated from said IDsignal. There will be given a display, for example, as shown in FIG.4(ii), (iii) or (iv) respectively for a compression rate of 1280 times,640 times or 320 times.

#61: The switch 40 is connected to the FM demodulating circuit 47 toprovide the signal regenerated by the head 33 to said circuit 47 and tostore the regenerated audio signal in the RAM 13. The time required forsaid storage corresponds to the one cycle time of the magnetic sheet 34and is very short in fact.

#62: The reading of the signal, stored in the RAM 13 in the step #61, isstarted with a speed corresponding to the audio compression rate,thereby regenerating the audio signal by the loudspeaker 51 or themonitor 46 through the D/A converter 50.

#63: The reading of the signal, stored in the RAM 13, is continued, andthe lapse of one second is discriminated, and the flow proceeds to astep #64 after the lapse of one second.

#64: The display on the display unit 24 is decreased stepwise, thusindicating the remaining regenerating time of the audio signal.

#65: There is discriminated whether the signal reading from the RAM 13has been completed or not, and the flow proceeds respectively to a step#71 or returns to the step #63. Then, if the step #71 identifies thatthe second stroke depression of the release switch 104 has not beenmade, the flow returns to the step #51. The reading and writingoperations of the RAM 49 are controlled by the main controller 20, andthe completion of signal reading is identified by the state of aread-out control counter provided in the main controller 20.

If the step #58 does not identify the audio recording operation, thereis executed a flow starting from a following step #70:

#70: The selector switch 40 is shifted to the FM demodulating circuit43. The signal regenerated by the head 33 is demodulated in said FMdemodulating circuit 43, then processed in the regeneration processcircuit 44, converted into a complex television signal by the encoder45, and supplied to the monitor 46 connected to the external monitorterminals 69, for regeneration of the image.

#71: There is discriminated whether the release switch 104 has beenturned on again, and, if not, the flow returns to the step #51 to repeatthe above-explained procedure. Once the regenerating operation isstarted, the steps #56 and #59 are not executed, since the regenerationflag is set in the step #57. Thus, after said setting of theregeneration flag, the access position of the head 33 can be arbitrarilychanged by the UP switch 105 or DOWN switch 106.

#72: If the release switch 104 is depressed to the second stroke, theregeneration flag is reset to interrupt the regenerating operation, andthe flow returns to the start.

In the above-explained embodiment, the regenerating operation is startedby the depression of the release switch 104 to the second stroke afterthe selection of the regenerating mode by the switch 101. The ID signaldetected from the output of the head 33, of which access position iscontrolled by the UP switch 105 and the DOWN switch 106, is used fordiscriminating whether the track where the head 33 is positioned recordvideo signal or audio signal, and the display unit 24 provides differentdisplays according to the result of said discrimination. If audio signalis recorded, a display corresponding to the compression rate of saidsignal is given on the display unit 24.

Also in the regeneration of audio signal, the remaining regeneratingtime is automatically displayed with the progress of the audioregeneration.

Furthermore, in said embodiment, the lapse of audio recording time inthe recording mode and the lapse of audio regenerating time in theregenerating mode are both displayed by the remaining time on a samedisplay unit, but it is naturally possible also to represent the elapsedtime of recording or regeneration. In essence, any mode of displaycapable of indicating the lapse of time is acceptable.

Also in said embodiment the display unit 24 is composed of seven-segmentdisplay elements of two digits, but it is also possible, as shown inFIG. 6, to construct the display unit 24 from scales 71, 73, displayelements 74 such as light-emitting diodes, and display elements 70, 72for indicating either of said scales. In this structure, in case of theaudio recording or regenerating mode, the display element 72 is turnedon, and the display elements 74 are turned on in succession from aposition corresponding to an index "1" on the scale 73, or are allturned on at the beginning and are turned off in succession from aposition "1" to a position "20", with the progress of the audiorecording or regeneration. In the video recording or regeneration, thedisplay element 70 is turned on, and a display element 74 is turned on,corresponding to an index 71 of a track number where the head 33 ispositioned.

Also in said embodiment the elapsed time of audio recording orregeneration, the track number of video recording or regeneration, andthe disabled recording state are indicated by the display unit 24, butit is also possible to provide a switch 107, connected to the maincontroller 20, for displaying the number of empty tracks and to executea sequence shown in FIG. 7 when said switch is turned on.

In the following there will be explained a flow shown in FIG. 7, whichis to be inserted between the steps #3 and #4 shown in FIG. 3A and is tobe executed only when the recording mode is selected by the switch 101.In order to display the number of empty tracks also in the regeneratingmode, the flow shown in FIG. 7 may be inserted between the steps #2 and#3 shown in FIG. 3A:

#80: Determine whether or not the empty track display switch 107 isturned on. In case of that it is determined that the switch is turnedon, then go to the step #81. In case of not, then go to step #4.

#81: When the empty track display switch 107 is turned on, there iscounted the number of unrecorded tracks, represented by the "0" bits inthe track memory of the controller 20.

#82: The number of empty tracks counted in the step #81 is displayed onthe display unit 24. Respectively corresponding to the display formatshown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, there will be provided a display shown inFIG. 8 or FIG. 9, together with a message "unrecorded", signifying thatthe displayed number indicates the number of empty tracks.

#83: The flow waits for 2 seconds, in order to continue the displayexecuted in the step #82.

#84: There is discriminated whether the empty track display switch 107is turned on or not, and this step is repeated if said switch is turnedon. If said switch is turned off, the flow proceeds to a step #85.

#85: The display on the display unit 24 is shifted to the display statein the step #3.

The embodiment of the flow shown in FIG. 7 allows one further tosimplify the structure of the display unit 24, since the display of thenumber of empty tracks and the display of the elapsed recording orregenerating time are both made on the display unit 24.

In the foregoing embodiments the display unit 24 is used for multiplepurposes, and there are employed additional messages such as "TR","SEC", "UN-RECORDED" shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 9 or additional scales71, 73 shown in FIG. 6 for indicating the nature of displayedinformation, but it is also possible to modify the format of display forthis purpose, for example by employing different colors or modifying thepositions of displayed data.

Also in the foregoing embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5, the display isflashing in the setting of the audio compression rate but is continuousin the audio recording operation in order to distinguish these twostates, but such distinguishing can be achieved also through amodification in the display format.

As explained in the foregoing, the embodiment of the present inventionprovides a recording apparatus allowing the user to know the lapse oftime in audio recording with display of a simple structure without thefear of confusion.

Also the embodiment of the present invention provides a recordingapparatus allowing the user to know the lapse of time in audioregeneration with display of a simple structure, without the fear ofconfusion.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording apparatus capable of recording videosignal or audio signal in each memory block of a memory means,comprising:(a) recording means for recording a video signal or an audiosignal in the memory means; (b) switch means for selecting audio signalrecording or video signal recording to be performed by said recordingmeans; (c) display means for displaying numerical data; and (d) controlmeans for controlling display of data by said display means, whereinsaid control means controls said display means such that said displaymeans displays elapsed time as numerical data when audio signalrecording is selected by said switch means and displays informationrelated to recording operation of said recording means when video signalrecording is selected by said switch means.
 2. A recording apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said display means displays the number ofa memory block of said memory means, at which the recording is conductedby said recording means.
 3. A recording apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the memory means is a recording medium.
 4. A recording apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the recording medium is disk-shaped.
 5. Arecording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said number of memoryblock is the number of a track formed on the recording medium.
 6. Arecording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording meansincludes:first means for processing, for recording, the video signal tobe recorded; and second means for processing, for recording, the audiosignal to be recorded.
 7. A recording apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said display means includes seven-segment display devices.
 8. Arecording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means formeasuring the elapsed recording time from the start of recording of theaudio signal.
 9. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising means for counting the number of unrecorded blocks from amongthe memory blocks of the memory means.
 10. A recording apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein said display means displays the number ofunrecorded memory blocks obtained by said counting means.
 11. Arecording apparatus capable of recording information signal in eachmemory block of a memory means, said apparatus comprising:(a) recordingmeans for recording the information signal in each block of the memorymeans; (b) means for counting elapsed recording time of the informationsignal; (c) display means for displaying numerical data; (d) instructingmeans for instructing said recording means to start recording of theinformation signal; and (e) control means for controlling display ofdata by said display means, wherein said control means controls saiddisplay means such that said display means displays elapsed recordingtime of said information signal after start of recording of saidinformation signal is instructed by said instructing means and displaysa number of recording block accessed by said recording means when startof recording of the information signal is not instructed by saidinstructing means.
 12. A recording apparatus according to claim 11,wherein the memory means is a recording medium.
 13. A recordingapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the recording medium isdisk-shaped.
 14. A recording apparatus according to claim 12, whereinsaid number of memory block is the number of a track formed on therecording medium.
 15. A recording apparatus according to claim 11,wherein said display means includes seven-segment display devices.
 16. Arecording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the informationsignal is an audio signal, and wherein said recording means is means forrecording the audio signal with time-axis compression in each block ofthe memory means.
 17. A recording apparatus comprising:(a) means forcompressing an information signal; (b) means for setting the compressingstate of said compressing means; (c) display means for displayingnumerical data; and (d) control means for controlling display of data bysaid display means, wherein said control means controls said displaymeans such that said display means displays information related to thecompressing state set by said setting means when setting of thecompressing state is performed by said setting means and displaysinformation other than information related to the compressing state whenthe compressing state is not set by said setting means.
 18. A recordingapparatus according to claim 17, wherein said compressing means is meansfor time-axis compression of the information signal.
 19. A recordingapparatus according to claim 18, wherein said setting means is means forsetting the time-axis compression rate of said compressing means.
 20. Arecording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said display meansincludes seven-segment display devices.
 21. A recording apparatusaccording to claim 17, further comprising:(e) means for recording theinformation signal, compressed by said compressing means, in memorymeans provided with plural memory blocks, wherein said control means isadapted to cause said display means to display the number of a block inwhich said recording means is to effect a recording operation.
 22. Arecording apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:(e)recording means for recording the information signal, compressed by saidcompressing means, in a memory means provided with plural memory blocks;and (f) means for counting the number of unrecorded memory blocks fromamong the plural memory blocks of the memory means, wherein said controlmeans is adapted to cause said display means to display the number ofunrecorded memory blocks counted by said counting means.
 23. A recordingapparatus according to claim 17, wherein said setting means is adaptedto set the compression rate of said compressing means in plural levels.24. A recording apparatus capable of recording an information signalwith time-axis compression in each memory block of a memory means, saidapparatus comprising:(a) means for time-axis compression of theinformation signal; (b) setting means for setting the time-axiscompression of said time-axis compressing means; (c) recording means forrecording the information, after it has been subjected to time-axiscompression by said time-axis compressing means, in a memory block underaccess; (d) display means adapted for displaying numerical data; and (e)control means for controlling display of data by said display means,wherein said control means controls said display means such that saiddisplay means displays the time-axis compressing state set to saiddisplay means when such time-axis compressing state is set by saidsetting means, and displays information other than such time-axiscompressing state when the time-axis compressing state is not set bysaid setting means.
 25. A recording apparatus according to claim 24,wherein the memory means is a recording medium.
 26. A recordingapparatus according to claim 25, wherein said recording means furthercomprises:a recording head with variable access position to therecording medium; and means for supplying said recording head with theinformation signal compressed by said time-axis compressing means.
 27. Arecording apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said display meansdisplays information of a memory block number of the memory means.
 28. Arecording apparatus capable of recording an audio signal in each memoryblock of a memory means, said apparatus comprising:(a) recording meansfor recording the audio signal in each block of the memory means; (b)first means for counting the elapsed recording time of the audio signal;(c) second means for counting the number of unrecorded blocks from amongthe memory blocks of the memory means; (d) display means for displayingnumerical data; (e) instructing means for instructing said recordingmeans to start recording of the audio signal; and (f) control means forcontrolling display of data by said display means, wherein said controlmeans controls said display means such that said display means displaysinformation related to elapsed recording time counted by said firstmeans after start of recording of the audio signal, and displaysinformation related to a number of unrecorded memory blocks whenrecording of the audio signal has not been instructed by saidinstructing means.
 29. A recording apparatus according to claim 28,wherein the memory means is a recording medium.
 30. A recordingapparatus according to claim 28, further comprising designation meansfor designating, to said display means, the display of the number ofunrecorded memory blocks counted by said second means.
 31. A reproducingapparatus capable of reproducing a video signal or an audio signalrecorded in each of plural memory blocks of a memory means, saidapparatus comprising:(a) reproducing means for reproducing the videosignal or the audio signal from the memory means; (b) switch means forselecting audio signal reproduction or video signal reproduction to beperformed by said reproducing means; (c) display means for displayingnumerical data; and (d) control means for controlling display of data bysaid display means, wherein said control means controls said displaymeans such that said display means displays elapsed time as numericaldata when audio signal reproducing is selected by said switch means anddisplays information related to reproducing operation of saidreproducing means when video signal reproducing is selected by saidswitch means.
 32. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, whereinsaid display means displays the number of a memory block of the memorymeans, at which the reproduction is conducted by said reproducing means.33. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the memorymeans is a recording medium.
 34. A reproducing apparatus according toclaim 33, wherein the recording medium is disk-shaped.
 35. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 33, wherein said number of memory block isthe number of a track formed on the recording medium.
 36. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 31, wherein said reproducing meansincludes:first means for reproduction-processing the recorded videosignal; and second means for reproduction-processing the recorded audiosignal.
 37. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein saiddisplay means includes seven-segment display devices.
 38. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 31, further comprising means for measuringthe elapsed reproducing time from the start of reproduction of the audiosignal.
 39. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, furthercomprising means for counting the number of unrecorded blocks from amongin the memory blocks of said memory means.
 40. A reproducing apparatusaccording to claim 39, wherein said display means displays the number ofunrecorded memory blocks obtained by said counting means.
 41. Areproducing apparatus for reproducing a compressed information signalwith signal expansion, said apparatus comprising:(a) means foridentifying the compression rate of the compressed information signal;(b) display means for displaying numerical data; and (c) control meansfor controlling said display means such that said display means displaysinformation according to the compression rate identified by saididentifying means when the compression rate can be identified by saididentifying means and displays information other than informationaccording to the compression rate when said identifying means cannotidentify the compression rate.
 42. A reproducing apparatus according toclaim 41, further comprising reproducing means for reproducing saidinformation signal, recorded in compressed state in memory meansprovided with plural memory blocks;wherein said control means is adaptedto cause said display means to display the number of a block to whichsaid reproducing means is making access for reproduction.
 43. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the informationsignal is a time-axis compressed information signal.
 44. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 43, wherein the information signal is anaudio signal.
 45. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 44, whereinsaid information according to the compression rate is informationindicating the reproducing time in a case in which the audio signal isexpanded.
 46. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 41, whereinsaid display means includes seven-segment display devices.
 47. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising:(d)reproducing means for reproducing the information signal, recorded incompressed state in a memory means provided with plural memory blocks;and (e) means for detecting unrecorded blocks from among the pluralmemory blocks of the memory means; wherein said control means is adaptedto cause said display means to display information related to theunrecorded blocks detected by said detecting means.